Naruto Shippuden Episode 396 -

The episode centers on the first stage of the Chūnin Exams—a written test designed by .

Viewers appreciated the nostalgic callback to the original Chūnin Exams and the clever puzzle-solving nature of Shikamaru's test.

It provides rare screen time for secondary characters like Fū (the Seven-Tails Jinchūriki) and highlights Neji's leadership skills before his promotion to Jōnin. Critical Reception Naruto Shippuden Episode 396

A team fails if their total score is not exactly 100, or if any individual score is lower than the room's average.

Some found the heavy focus on calculating averages tedious, and many fans were frustrated by the placement of this filler arc in the middle of the climactic Fourth Shinobi World War. The episode centers on the first stage of

" The Three Questions " (三つの問題, Mittsu no Mondai ) is episode 396 of the anime, which originally aired on January 22, 2015 . It is part of the filler arc "In Naruto's Footsteps: The Friends' Paths," which explores the second Chūnin Exams that took place during Naruto's three-year training journey with Jiraiya. Plot Summary: The First Exam

Reviews of the episode are generally mixed, often cited as a by fans. Critical Reception A team fails if their total

Unlike standard tests, teams are split into three separate rooms. Each member must choose one of three questions worth 30, 40, or 50 points. For the team to pass, their combined score must equal exactly 100 points .